Looking to restrict India to 350: Dhammika Prasad

Colombo: Sri Lanka pacer Dhammika Prasad yesterday said that his team conceded the early advantage to India, but vowed to come back stronger and restrict the visitors to around 350 in their first innings.

India, despite losing two wickets for just 12 runs after opting to bat, recovered to reach 319 for six at stumps on day one of the ongoing second Test here.

"We have to get the last four wickets very quickly. If we get them out for less than 350, that's what we would be hoping for. If we give them more runs it will make things difficult for us," said Prasad after the first day's play today.

India Opener KL Rahul (108) struck a fluent century, besides adding 164 runs with skipper Virat Kohli (78) and another 55 runs with Rohit Sharma (79) to cap off a good day for the visitors but Prasad said the home team bowlers did well in patches.

"We bowled well at the start and towards the end. There was a good partnership after our good start, but now we've come back into the game, I think. We were in a good place, but we gave some runs away towards the end," he said.

Rahul got a life early in the first session when Jehan Mubarak dropped him at gully and Prasad admitted that the day could have turned out differently had the catch been taken.

"We were a little disadvantaged by dropping that catch at that time. Had we taken that catch of Rahul, the first session would have been different. We might have been able to take even more wickets with a new batsman coming to the crease. That did cost us a bit," said Prasad.

"They batted positively after that chance. If you take their second innings in Galle, this was a different approach. Because they batted positively without losing wickets, we were put on the back foot for a bit," he added.

The pitch looked to ease out as the play progressed. It is now bound to take turn at some stage.